Last-minute touchdown stuns Gardner

GARDNER -- As the second half evolved, one could tell that whichever team, Gardner or Tyngsboro, scored last would more than likely take what turned out to be an emotional victory.

The script went as planned -- but not for Gardner.

The Tigers scored the game-winning touchdown with 22 seconds left, not even half a minute after the Wildcats scored what they thought was the game-winner, as Tyngsboro returned to the Merrimack Valley with a 27-25 win at Watkins Field Friday afternoon.

Longtime Gardner head coach Walt Dubzinski Jr., along with the entire Wildcat locker room, was somber after the game.

"It's a disappointing loss," he said, the disappointment evident in his tone. "We played very well for long periods of time. We just didn't make the play. Give (Tyngsboro) all the credit in the world, they made the play. The game lasted a little too long for us today. It's a tough loss because I thought we did a great job."

Despite the loss, Gardner (1-3) received an inspiring performance out of senior running back Brandon Williams. Williams couldn't have done more for the GHS effort in this one, as he recorded a first-half interception, 229 all-purpose yards (110 return yards, 7 receiving, 112 rushing on 17 carries) along with three second-half touchdowns, including the last one, a 7-yard TD reception with 49 seconds left on the clock on the heels of Tyngsboro's (5-0) second defensive pass interference penalty of the game.

"I gave it all I had," Williams said.

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"I think I could have made a few more plays, but that's the name of the game, whoever makes more plays wins."

"He's carried us a couple of games and he's done a great job. We did a lot of good things offensively against a very good team," Dubzinski said. "The score was indicative of the way the two teams played."

But Tyngsboro used some trickery after the ensuing kick, which saw the Tigers go to the right on the Wildcat kick team to start at their own 45.

The first play? A picture-perfect hook-and-ladder between quarterback John Trottier, tight end Thomas Lafferty and running back Chuck Keenan that brought the Tigers down to the Gardner 31.

One snap later, Trottier dropped back and connected with Austin Coene, who leaped in tripled coverage to come down with the ball in the end zone for the touchdown.

"He came down with it," Dubzinski said.

Then, after Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 9 yards, the Tyngsboro defense swarmed Gardner signal-caller Andrew Guay for a 14-yard sack to end the game.

After a rather defensive-minded and rapid -- 35 minutes of real time -- first half that saw the Tigers go into the locker room with a 7-6 lead, the teams ground out a teeter-totter second half, with Williams doing a bulk of the work for the Orange and Black.

After Williams returned Tyngsboro's first punt 42 yards to the Tiger 28, a pass interference penalty set up the Wildcats at the Tiger 13. Two plays later, Williams scored from 5 yards away to give GHS a 12-7 lead.

"I thought we did a better job up front for him," Dubzinski said.

Williams agreed with the sentiments of his coach.

"I thought the line played a great game. It was one of the best games they've played. We had 21 points coming into today, now we're at 46. We did a good job of moving the ball today," he said.

Tyngsboro then methodically rushed downfield, with Keenan (24 carries, 88 yards), David Bangura (4 carries, 22 yards) and Trottier doing the majority of the work before Bangura, on first-and-goal from the Wildcat 9, took the isho, swept the right side and went into the end zone untouched.

Coene's kick made it 14-12 with 4:09 left in the third.

Williams then returned the ensuing kick 59 yards to the Tyngsboro 23, before Gardner grinded it out, converting on fourth-and-1 from the 14.

Three plays later, it appeared as if the Tiger defense had Williams stopped on third-and-3 from the 4, but Williams lunged for the end zone and broke the plane of the goal line for the TD, giving GHS a four-point, 18-14 lead.

Keenan then capped off a 10-play, 55-yard drive to hit paydirt from a yard out to make it 21-18 with 6:01 remaining.

Gardner marched downfield and appeared halted at the Tyngsboro 42, when Kenny Correa converted third-and-3 with a 7-yard gain to the 35.

Guay then looked for Williams in the right flat, but a Tiger defender committed the second defensive pass interference penalty to give GHS an automatic first down at the 20.

Guay then found Peter Gallant (8 carries, 35 yards rushing, TD; 2 receptions, 14 yards receiving) for a gain of eight to the 12 before Tyngsboro was flagged for offsides, giving Gardner first-and-goal at the 7.

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